> Both the Death Penalty and Gun Control in America relate to all 3 branches of Power.

Obama tried to have the Senate agree to new gun control laws

but the Senate disagreed under the influence of the NRA (gun lobby.)

The other issue that relates to all three branches of power in Guantanamo.

The Guantanamo Controversy

Key Facts about Guantanamo

also called G-Bay, or Gitmo

United States Naval Station located to the southeastern coast of Cuba.

operated by the Joint Task Force Guantanamo (JTF-GTMO) of the United States military.

Detention camp designed for detention and interrogation of terrorists or potential terrorists considered as ‘threats’ on American soil.

Located in Cuba to prevent detainees / inmates from seeking the remedy of any American or international court.

Context:

In response to the September 11, 2001 attacks on the Twin Towers and Pentagon

Armed conflict in Afghanistan + “Global War on Terrorism”.

President Bush ordered the Secretary of State to find a location for a detention centre where non-US nationals suspected of terrorism could be held without charges.

In December 2001, the Department of Justice decreed that the federal courts would not consider habeas corpus petitions from detainees at the Guantanamo Bay base since it is not sovereign US territory.

The Bush Administration following 9/11 agreed to imprison potential terrorists without a trial / without charges so they ignored the Habeas Corpus which guarantees a trial / a lawyer to any one who is convicted of a crime. > presumption of innocence.

Contrary to G. W. Bush, Barack Obama promised to have Guantanamo during his electon campaign. Yet the camp is still not closed…

The Patriot Act The USA PATRIOT Act is an Act of Congress that was signed into law by President George W. Bush on October 26, 2001. The title of the act is a ten-letter acronym (USA PATRIOT) that stands for Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001.

When we think about Guantanamo we immediately thing about Nazi concentration camps and torture / interrogation techniques. The Wikileaks files revealed atrocities that went on in Guantanamo.

International laws / Geneva Convention and Amnesty International are trying to have Guantanamo closed because prisoners are denied the rights of war prisoners and also basic Human Rights such as the Habeas Corpus.

The camp stands in sharp contrast with the American motto and constitution.